Sheet metal awnings



April 3, 1956 J. W. MICKELSEN SHEET METAL AWNINGS Filed Dec. 13, 1952 ATTORNEY nited dtates Patent SHEET METAL AWNINGS John. W. Mickelsen, Greenville, S. C. Application December 13, 1952, Serial No. 325,789 1 Claim. (Cl. 20-575) My invention relates to improvements in rigid type awnings, such as sheet metal awnings.

A primary object of the invention is to provide in a sheet metal awning a series of louvres stamped from the material of the awning and allowing the passage of light for illuminating the inside of the awning, and at the same time preventing water or rain from passing through the awning.

A further object is to provide in a sheet metal awning louvres stamped from the material of the awning and arranged at proper angles to the sides and cover sheet to cause light to be reflected onto the inner faces of the sides and cover sheet.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an awning of the above-mentioned type which is sturdy in construction, attractive, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a perspective view of a sheet metal awning embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the inside of the front or cover sheet of the awning.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section on line 55 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates generally the front inclined side or cover sheet of the awning, which is preferably formed of a single integral sheet of relatively light gage sheet metal, such as sheet aluminum or the like. The cover sheet 10 may be slightly bowed 0r concave, as shown, and the cover sheet is formed or pressed to provide a plurality of steps 11 having connecting relatively narrow risers 12. At its lower end, the inclined cover sheet 10 is downturned for forming a relatively short front vertical wall 13. Rigidly mounted upon the uppermost step 11 of the cover sheet 10, by riveting, or the like, is the usual hanger plate 14, preferably formed of sheet alminum of a somewhat heavier gage than the aluminum employed for the cover sheet 10.

The awning has an internal supporting frame, including inclined side members or bars 15, to which the cover sheet 16 is rigidly secured by rivets 16 or the like, and the frame further comprises bottom horizontal bars 17 and rear vertical bars or uprights 18, having their meeting ends rigidly secured together by any suitable means, at the lowermost rear corners of the awning. Short vertical frame sections or legs 19 are rigidly secured to the lower ends of the bars 15, and have their lower ends in turn rigidly secured to the horizontal bars 17. A forward transverse horizontal, frame. member or brace 20 extends.

aluminum, and. likewise formed or pressed. to provide aseries of steps 23 andrisers 24. The: lower edges of the sides 22 are bent inwardly for forminghorizontal. attach? ing flanges 25, below the. bars 17, and rigidly secured:

thereto by riveting or the like. The sides 22 are. further rigidlysecuredto the frame members 15 and 18 by'rivets 26. A scalloped ornamental skirt 27 extends entirely about the lower edges of the sides 22 and front vertical wall 13, and the skirt has a top horizontal attaching flange 28, integral therewith and arranged below the flanges 21 and 25, and rigidly secured to the frame members 17 and 20 by the same rivets which secure the flanges 21 and 25 in place.

In order to permit the passage of light to the interior of the awning for illuminating the same, I strike out of the material forming the risers 12 a plurality of louvres 29, and the louvres are equidistantly spaced longitudinally in each riser 12, and preferably staggered with respect to the louvres of the next adjacent riser 12, see Figure 3. Each louvre 29 of the several risers 12 is inwardly or rearwardly struck from the riser, and has its opposite ends closed, as indicated at 30. Each louvre 29 is arranged substantially vertically, in use, below the next uppermost step 11, Figure 5, and the top of each louvre is open for forming a passage for light to be reflected upwardly upon the under surface of the step 11. Since the louvres 29 are struck inwardly, and have their ends closed, it is not possible for rain water to pass to the inside of the awning, although light may freely pass upwardly through the passages formed by the louvres. The top edges of the louvres 29 are spaced a slight distance only below the steps 11, and this arrangement renders the awning further waterproof. Obviously, any desired number of the louvres 29 may be struck from the risers 12, and each louvre is preferably somewhat elongated horizontally as shown.

Louvres 31, similar to the louvres 29 are struck upwardly from the risers 24, which are substantially horizontal in use, Figure 3, and the louvres 31 are inclined and preferably arranged at about 45 degrees to the risers 24, as shown. This arrangement enables light to pass upwardly through the openings in the risers 24, caused by the formation 31 and to be reflected upon the inner surfaces of the steps 23. As in the case of the louvres 29, the opposite ends of the louvres 31 are closed, and integrally joined to the risers 24, and the arrangement is such that rain water cannot enter the awning but light rays can readily enter the same.

With my above described construction, the awning is completely effective for shedding water, and no water will enter the interior of the awning. Light rays passing through the openings formed by the louvres is reflected upon the inner faces of the steps 11 and 23, and this affords considerable illumination inside of the awning, so that the awning will not block out too much light from a window or the like, over which the awning is mounted.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to,

Patented Apn 3, 1.956;-

without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

A metal awning comprising a long substantially stiff single sheet metal cover sheet extending throughout substantially the entire length of the awning and constituting the inclined top of the awning, said single sheet metal cover sheet being formed to provide a plurality of inclined steps and inclined risers connecting the ends of the steps, means supporting the single sheet metal cover sheet so that the steps are inclined downwardly toward the outer side of the awning, said risers being inclined upwardly toward the outer side of the awning so that the upper ends of the risers are arranged outwardly of their lower ends, said risers being substantially at right angles to said steps, the outer portions of the steps overlapping the inclined risers and the inner portions of the next lower steps, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced horizontal elongated louvers formed integral with and stamped from each riser and projecting inwardly beyond such risers, each louver including a closed inner side and closed ends, each louver providing an exterior recess in the riser, said recess having a substantially horizontal open top, the closed inner side of each louver and said open top of the recess being spaced below the next upper step thereby providing an upper portion for the riser carrying said louver, said upper portion extending above said open top, the upper end of the closed side of said louver being substantially at the elevation of the lower end of said upper portion of the riser carrying said louver, the arrangement being such that the top of the awning provides light and ventilation but prevents rain from passing rearwardly through the louvers.

References Cited inthe file of this patent 

